2016 IOWA FOOTBALL RECRUITING: QUARTERBACK, RUNNING BACK, WIDE RECEIVER

NATE STANLEY

Quarterback, 6'4", 200
Menomonie, WI (Menomonie)
3★ Rivals, 4★ Scout, 3★ ESPN, 3★ 247Sports

You Might Remember Him From Such Posts As: Have A Seat, Nate Stanley | Nate Stanley recruiting capsule

Stanley's commitment is due in no small part to Wisconsin's constant coaching changes.  He wasn't considered too heavily by Gary Andersen's staff when Iowa first took notice last year, and the Hawkeyes had wrapped up his verbal commitment before Paul Chryst had found the keys to his company car.  From there, it was just holding onto him while Wisconsin sent wave after wave of in-state pressure his way.  And make no mistake: Wisconsin wanted him.

Some tidbits from @CoachSWallace: Iowa very much wanted QB Nate Stanley and Sconnie charged until the end.

— marcmorehouse (@marcmorehouse) February 3, 2016

There's good reason for the interest: He's a three-sport athlete good enough to get drafted into major league baseball as a pitcher.  Stanley is the next step in a small shift in quarterback philosophy: Where Iowa previously wanted the statuesque pocket passer, coaches now don't mind a bit of wiggle.  C.J. Beathard's scrambling and running ability is now an attribute sought in every signalcaller.

2016 Outlook: He's a quarterback at a school with C.J. Beathard.  He's redshirting.

FUN FACT: Nate Stanley and recruiting coordinator Seth Wallace bonded over their unusual plight as people with two first names, finding trust in each other despite their inherent untrustworthiness as dual-first-namers.

TOKS AKINRIBADE

Running Back, 6'1", 205
Brownsburg, IN (Brownsburg)
3★ Rivals, 3★ Scout, 3★ ESPN, 3★ 247Sports

You Might Remember Him From Such Posts As: Have A Seat, Toks Akinribade | Toks Akinribade recruiting capsule

There was some concern that Toks Akinribade, a player whose commitment arguably meant more to Iowa's recruiting strategy in this cycle as any other, would bolt this winter.  After a solid senior season, Indiana stepped up its efforts to keep him in-state.  When his primary recruiter, former linebackers coach Jim Reid, left the program and Akinribade scheduled a January official visit to Bloomington, red flags started waving.  Iowa solidified whatever jiggle was left in Akinribade's decision, though, and the official visit never materialized.

Iowa now gets one of those rarest of Hawkeye commodities: A ready-made halfback.  It's why Iowa coaches basically shut down halfback recruiting as soon as he committed (there were a few games of footsie with other prospects this winter, but nothing serious), and why Akinribade became a target from others late.  He's big.  He's fast. He's productive.  If he can block -- always a shaky proposition -- there's no reason he can't get in the mix next season.

2016 Outlook: Of course, Iowa already has three experienced halfbacks returning, with LeShun Daniels and Akrum Wadley poised to take the bulk of carries and Derrick Mitchell possibly getting in the mix.  Then again, it's Iowa halfback, so they might all get the gout or run their scooters into trees in the next nine months.

FUN FACT: Before recruiting Akinribade, Iowa had to get a letter from Gary Dolphin waiving his "three syllable name maximum" contract clause.  This kid is that good.

TOREN YOUNG

Running Back, 5'11", 215
Madison, WI (Monona Grove)
3★ Rivals, 3★ Scout, 3★ ESPN, 3★ 247Sports

You Might Remember Him From Such Posts As: Toren Young recruiting capsule

Toren Young committed so early -- January 25 of last year, more than a year before Signing Day -- and came from such an odd location -- a seven-mile drive from Camp Randall -- that we immediately thought he was either a project or destined to decommit.  Like so often, we were wrong.  Young stuck with Iowa for 13 months, during which he annihilated everything in his path.  He ran for 318 yards and four touchdowns during one late October game, and did so on just 13 carries.  Needless to say, Wisconsin took notice, yet it didn't much matter.  The Badgers struck out with every attempt, and when Iowa can pull a back from Madison that Wisconsin wants, you know the paradigm is shifting.

2016 Outlook: High school production aside, Young's technique needs more work than Akinribade's, and it's likely that Iowa will exhaust all AIRBHG'd options before pulling the inevitable redshirt off his back.

FUN FACT: Jacobi has already written a post entitled "Toren it Up!" for his first 200-yard game in 2018.

DEVONTE YOUNG

Wide Receiver, 6'0", 190
Brandywine, MD (North Point)
2★ Rivals, 3★ Scout, 3★ ESPN, 3★ 247Sports

You Might Remember Him From Such Posts As: Have A Seat, Devonte Young | Devonte Young recruiting capsule

Young was the fifth of five commitments during June's "Recruiting Tailgater," probably the most successful recruiting event the Iowa staff has ever thrown.  He's also the only recruit out of the mid-Atlantic this year.  That 's all interesting, but Young is here for one reason: He's fast.  Young's profile matches those of Iowa's most recent receiver commits, potentially a bit undersized but with enough speed and athleticism to overcome it.

2016 Outlook: On the one hand, Iowa is replacing Tevaun Smith and has no qualms about playing freshmen at receiver.  On the other hand, Iowa has a bunch of guys with the same skills who have been in the program longer.  There's enough of a logjam that a redshirt looks likely, but it's by no means certain.

FUN FACT: Devonte is Spanish for "The Vonte."

FRANK DARBY

Wide Receiver, 6'1", 180
Jersey City, NJ (Lincoln)
2★ Rivals, 3★ Scout, NR ESPN, 3★ 247Sports

You Might Remember Him From Such Posts As: Have A Seat, Frank Darby | Frank Darby recruiting capsule

If Young is fast, Darby has speed to burn.  He averaged 28 yards per catch and scored touchdowns on a third of his receptions as a junior.  He backed it up with 27 yards per game on twice as many receptions as a senior, rolling up 957 receiving yards on just 35 catches.  He's here as a deep threat.

That is, if he's here at all.  Darby could not sign a letter of intent Wednesday because he has yet to receive a qualifying SAT score.  Darby has taken the test again and is waiting on a new score, according to his high school coach.

2016 Outlook: If he gets here, Darby has the possibility of playing.  Iowa has utilized similar players in the past, and could use a deep threat on the perimeter.

FUN FACT: Darby has adopted a British pronunciation of his last name  -- 'derby' rather than 'darby' -- just so that he can follow in C.J. Fiedorowicz's tradition of Iowa receivers with hat-related last names.